John F. Kennedy High School CLASS OF 2018

Gathering Information Schedule a Meeting with your Counselor Use Resources Collegeboard.com College and Career Fairs Woodbridge High School College Fair: Wed., Oct 28nd 9:30 am to 12:30 pm ALL SENIORS MAY ATTEND College Visits Students must get a pass from their counselor Attend Open Houses

Senior Year Overview To be completed Timeline Continue to refine list of schools Begin to ask teachers for letters of recommendation September Counselor meetings with Early Applicants October SAT/ACT retakes October, November, December Early Decision, Early Action, Priority Deadlines November 1- December 1 Attend Financial Planning Meeting November Regular Decision Students Meetings with Counselors December Regular Decision Deadlines Financial Aid Filing January 1- February 15

PICKING THE RIGHT SCHOOL DO THE RESEARCH What is important to you? BIG vs. SMALL CLOSE vs. FAR What do you look for? RETENTIONS RATES DISCUSS $$$$$$$ BE UP FRONT!!!! PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS RECEIVING F/A Amount of schools to apply to 2 SAFETY SCHOOLS (GURANTEED ADMISSION) 3-4 MATCH SCHOOLS; YOUR PROFILE MATCHES THE SCHOOL 1-2 REACH IF YOU PREFER!!!!! VISITING THE SCHOOL IS IMPERATIVE, PREFERABLY DURING SESSION. OVERNIGHT VISIT BE REALISTIC, BE REALISTIC, BE REALISTIC

Vocational & Technical School WHAT IS YOUR PLAN? Four-year College Community College Vocational & Technical School Military Employment

When will you apply? Early Action Early Decision Early Decision II Apply by Oct15. 1 or Nov. 15 Decision by mid December Non-binding Early Decision Apply by Nov. 1 to Nov. 15 Binding if admitted Early Decision II Apply by Jan 1 Decision Feb. 1 Regular Admissions Rolling Admissions

Important things to do! Complete the application Online via the individual college/university websites Check if your college accepts the Common Application Requesting Letters of Recommendation College Application Essays Transcript Release Forms Contacting Collegeboard and/or ACT to send testing scores. 4 for FREE!!! Additional Supplemental Items Student Resume SAT Subject Tests Honors Programs Applications Additional Essays

The Common App www.commonapp.org Approximately 500 colleges accept the Common App Check each colleges individual application requirements Some Colleges may have additional individualized supplements JFK CEEB CODE: 310581 Seniors will need the teachers and counselor email address for recommendations Email addresses available on JFK website Each school will have their own individual application fee Save, Save, Save Any questions, COME TO GUIDANCE

Recommendations Most colleges and universities require two to three letters of recommendation Two letters from academic teachers, preferably from upperclassmen courses Seniors are asked to provide a RAVE SHEET to each recommender (see guidance for sheet) Additional letters of recommendation may come from coaches, advisors, community members, etc. Please do not expect a recommendation to be done quickly. It is your job to ask early and make sure you have ample time to submit for your deadline!

SAT Testing: Collegeboard.com ACT Testing: Actstudent.org SAT & ACT Testing SAT Testing: Collegeboard.com ACT Testing: Actstudent.org Use the above websites to register your Senior for upcoming administration of the test, use practice tests, and send scores to colleges. Things to know: JFK CEEB Code: 310581 College Codes will also be needed when registering to send scores. Fee waivers are available for both SAT & ACT for Seniors eligible for Free & Reduced Lunch Programs.

2017-18 TESTING DATES at JFK! Next Test Dates Register Deadline SAT’S AUG. 26 JUL. 28 OCT. 7 SEPT. 8 NOV. 4 OCT. 5 DEC.2 NOV. 2 *MAR. 10 FEB.9 *MAY 5 APRIL 6 *JUNE 2 MAY 3 AVAILABLE AT JFK! *MAKE SURE YOU PICK YOUR FOUR FREE COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES (SENIORS ONLY)!! *Please note: ALL seniors are scheduled to take the SAT’s on Oct. 11 FREE of CHARGE!

2017-18 TESTING DATES at JFK! Next Test Dates Register Deadline ACT’S SEPT. 9 AUG. 4 *OCT. 28 SEPT. 22 DEC. 9 NOV. 3 FEB. 10 JAN. 12 APRIL 14 MAR. 9 JUNE 9 MAY 4 JULY 14 JUN. 15 AVAILABLE AT WHS! *MAKE SURE YOU PICK YOUR FOUR FREE COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES (SENIORS ONLY)!!

4-year University or College Application Process Submit application using the colleges website Pay online application fee or mail in Submit Transcript Release form to Guidance SAT & ACT are required for admissions for MOSTschools Recommendation letters or college essay required in most cases Deadlines vary, students are responsible for know the DEADLINES!! DEADLINES Early Decision; one school only, binding contract! Early Action; non-binding Regular Decision; latest deadline Rolling Admissions

Middlesex County College www2.middlesexcc.edu Application Process Submit MCC application using the colleges website Pay online application fee or mail in JFK On-site Admission will be scheduled Submit Transcript Release form to Guidance SAT & ACT not required for admissions but score will determine need for placement testing No recommendation letters or college essay required Rolling Admissions NJ STARS Program: Top 15% of your class and eligible for financial aide Other Community Colleges in State may offer some alternative majors, need to fill out an out- of county tuition waiver. Exp. Game Design

MAJOR DATES AND DEADLINES IF THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY APPLICATION DEADLINE IS … YOU MUST REQUEST TRANSCRIPTS IN THE GUIDANCE OFFICE BY… November 1st October 7th November 15th October 16th December 1st November 13th January 1st January 15th February 1st February 15th January 29th ANY OTHER DEADLINES (including rolling) two weeks prior to deadline! IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS FOR GUIDANCE TO PROCESS YOUR REQUEST. PLEASE BE PATIENT. We are not simply sending a transcript. The forms we are asked to complete require thoughtful, personalized responses.

Vocational Schools DeVry University Lincoln Technical School Middlesex County Vocational Schools Union County Vocational Schools Stenotech Career Institute Cosmetology Programs Sanford Brown ITT Technical Schools Connecticut School of Broadcasting

Scholarships Please check the GUIDANCE TAB on the school website for updated Scholarships. Elk's Scholarship (due 12/3/17)  http://www.elks.org/enf/scholars  YEF Scholarship (due 12/18/17)  http://www.NFIB.com/YEA Comcast Scholarship (due 12/4/17) http://programs.applyists.com/comcast/   US JCI Senate Scholarship (due 1/11/18) http://www.usjcisenate.org/index.php/programs/scholarship Students may find additional scholarships using websites such as: www.fastweb.com www.collegeboard.com www.cappex.com www.scholarships.com SCAM ALERT: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is… DO NOT provide too much personal and financial information to ANY scholarship application prior to review!

FREE COLLEGE FINANCIAL PLANNING NIGHT Wednesday, October 21, 2017 Colonia High School 180 East Street Colonia, NJ 07067 6:45 Registration starts 7:00 Workshop begins Due to the popularity of our free workshops, seats fill up quickly. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. Register online: www.mycollegeplan.com Or 1-888-377-5001

HESAA Financial Aid Night Wednesday Jan. 13 @ 6:30 Must file the FAFSA form in order to receive financial aide! WHS

Follow FAFSA on twitter @FAFSA What can I do now? APPLY FOR A PIN What is FAFSA? Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Follow FAFSA on twitter @FAFSA https://fafsa.ed.gov Apply after October 1, 2017 What can I do now? APPLY FOR A PIN https://pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

Thank You! Any questions???????